Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist

Duties

• Supervises and manages the respiratory department - assigning and evaluating work of subordinate staff and resolving issues that may interfere with patient examinations or treatments
• Evaluates - implements - and recommends new procedures - equipment - products - and emerging technologies
• Provides instruction and training for new staff
• Interviews candidates
• Recommends selections - advancements - promotions - and disciplinary actions
• Provides guidance in complex or non-standard cases
• Manages departmental budget and resources
• Develops departmental plans for financial and personnel needs
• Counsels and trains staff
• Conducts audits of inpatient and outpatient records to ensure proper documentation of plan of care - assessments - therapy - procedures - outcomes - and patient safety
• Supplies accurate information to the Chief to ensure regulatory compliance and appropriate clinical care
• Maintains and enforces departmental policies - procedures - quality assurance programs - and operational objectives
• Determines quality assurance and compliance data required for evaluation and participates in data collection
• Evaluates effectiveness of new procedures and equipment
• Investigates quality or quantity issues and initiates corrective actions
• Oversees all aspects of respiratory care including clinical practice - program administration - staff supervision - education - and human resource management
• Affirms patient needs - delegates tasks appropriately - and manages staffing to meet clinical demands
• Advises leadership on policy implications - key issues - and internal/external relationships
• Recommends courses of action
• Maintains effective interdepartmental relationships to support medical center goals and coordinates resolutions to complex problems
• Participates in audits - identifies performance improvement opportunities - and recommends or implements changes
• Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements including CMS - Joint Commission - and Core Measures
• Participates in respiratory care teaching - training - and staff development
• Assesses and evaluates staff competency at hire and continuously thereafter
• Represents the department in interdisciplinary meetings - facility-level committees - and VISN-level engagements
• Exercises independent judgment with broad latitude in decisions impacting staff - operations - and resource allocation
• Directs program services - ensuring appropriate utilization of personnel - equipment - and budget resources
• Manages respiratory care programs - which may include home oxygen therapy - home ventilator management - Sleep/PAP clinic operations - pulmonary procedure clinic services - and respiratory care provided in Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs)

Qualifications

• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)